Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-09-13
Two COUNTIES.
A Fire In BOtefOurf-A POwhatan-
County Recluse.

Correspondence Of the Richmond Dispatch
FINcAsTLE, Va, Sept. II, 1897.
Last night about 8 o'clock the barn
of William n. Baker, Esq who lives
about two miles east of Fincastle, took
fire and burned to the ground with all
its contents-from three TO five hun
dred bushels of wheat, about the same
amount of oats, his agricultural imple-
ments, and large amount of hay. The
building was a large frame building
worth about $500. The fire was caused
10y the explosion of an oil lantern.
Two of MIR. Bakers little sons took the
lantern into the barn to get some oats
for their fathers horses. The bottom
of the lantern fell and set fire to the
hay. The boys became frightened and
fed without making any effort to ex-
tinguish the flames. No insurance.
Mis-. Mary j. Hall, of this place, is
said to be dying. She was taken sick n
week ago. Her disease is said to be
meningitis.
Your correspondent has just returned
from trip to Powhatan county. The
people seemed very cheerful Overthe
crop prospects. The meadows were
greener, the tobacco leaves wider and
longer, the ears of corn larger and
thicker than | have seen for years.
The only trouble seems to be that the
acreage of tobacco is small. The sea-
son has been splendid, though rain
would be beneficial just now.
While at Powhatan Courthouse | was
SURPRISED to be informed that W. W.
Pelknap, Secretary of War under Presi-
dent Grant, had been making bis home
for the past two years in this quiet in
land village. His winters he spends In
New York city with wealthy married
daughter. While in Powhatan he lives
almost in seclusiOn with his books, ms
flowers, and his garden. He has rooms
IN the clearinghouse of the Widow
Atkinson. The house is large frame
building fronting on the courtyard.
When Mr.. Belknap first came here the
street extended to the porch OF the
hotel and the sun beamed upon the
bare house; but he obtained permis-
sion to enclose about ten feet of the
street for a front yard, which he has
planted in flowers and vines, which
iestoon with thick foliage the porch,
furnishing the much-needed shade and
protecting the lounger from the gaze Of
the passer by. Early every morning
the widows distinguished bOarder
pays negro boy 20 cents to fill
a barrel with water for the flowers.
This was told me as was about to en-
ter the wagon to leave the place. As [
manifested considerable interest in the
conversation my companion said !:
perhaps you would like to get a
glimpse of the old man ?" "By all
means" said l. So we walked up the
steps of the front porch, turned to the
right, where We were hidden by the
dense foliage of the vines, and entered
wide ball which extended from front
to rear of the building. At the further
end of the ball and in one corner sat
an old man intently reading a book
with an illuminated cover. We walked
10 the back door, which opened upon a
well-kept garden OF raspberry and
blackberry-bushes and other fruits.
My companion addressing the old
man by name, asked him question
about new variety of tomato.
He rose from bis seat, holding his book
in his hand as he replied, and seemed
pleased as he talked about his garden.
AS he conversed l observed that the
speaker was above the medium in
height and build and stopped little in
his shoulders. He appeared to be
about sixty-fve years of age. His
beard was gray and stood out upon his
face like bristles. His hat, which he
did not remove from his head, was a
low beaver the worse for wear. He
wore an alpaca coat, rusty and in one
place torn, white vest with dark spots,
drab pants, shoes rusty and tied with
cotton strings. In fine, he presented
quite dowdy appearance, perhaps as
sumed TO keep off newspaper-men, and
so left. AoroN.